For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

I was expecting to like Rivals, Disney+’s new steamy eight-episode adaptation of the classic Jilly Cooper novel. With Eighties hairstyles and soundtrack, an all-star cast and more bonking than you can shake a stick (or, should I say, “rock-hard member”) at, what’s not to like? What I definitely wasn’t expecting, however, was to find myself swooning over Danny Dyer. But swoon I did.

In a completely unprecedented turn of events, it was the ex-EastEnders actor – amid an ensemble cast stuffed full of thinking women’s crumpets – who set pulses racing in the role of straight-talking, salt-of-the-earth, boy-dun-good tech magnate Freddie Jones.

Forget David Tennant (the dastardly Lord Baddingham), Aidan Turner (the tenacious rottweiler of a journalist Declan O’Hara) and Alex Hassell (cartoonishly sexy rake Rupert Campbell-Black) – Dyer’s gruff brand of charm sparked a thousand WhatsApp chats as the nation succumbed to what can only be described as “Freddie Fever”.

“It’s all I’m talking to people about,” one friend messaged me frantically over the weekend. “The quiet love and respect of Danny Dyer and how wholesome that is. We don’t want bad boys; we just want Danny Dyer! (Also DD is everyone’s w*** fantasy now).” I never thought I’d be reading these words, let alone agreeing with them. But credit where credit’s due.

“I love a ladder – stairway to heaven and all that,” he mutters at one point to sexually frustrated romance novelist Lizzie Vereker, played by Katherine Parkinson, in reference to the ladder in her tights. “Have you got any idea how f***ing beautiful you are?” he says at another. Her vapid fop of a husband, James Vereker (Oliver Chris), is too busy preening and presenting a daytime TV show to perform his marital duties. At Freddie’s words, she melts; we all melt with her.

Dyer and Parkinson are an unlikely pairing – one whose languid, simmering journey towards infidelity sounds, on paper, like the least sexy thing about a show bursting at the seams with adultery, betrayal and naked tennis matches. Why would anyone be on the edge of their seat to find out whether a man frequently typecast as hooligans and criminals and a character actor best known for her role as Jen Barber in The IT Crowd are going to finally rip each other’s clothes off? Yet their understated subplot (well, understated for a show in which the opening scene consists of Campbell-Black renewing his mile-high club membership) is the heart of the entire series. It’s the believable backbone, providing a much-needed injection of emotional investment that grounds the rest of this hugely entertaining shag-fest in something approaching reality.

Their slow-burn romance is perhaps so beguiling because it is slow, set in a fictional Cotswolds world where people need do no more than glance at each other before dropping trow and getting down and dirty. If desire is all about wanting and not having, then Freddie and Lizzie are its epitome; they find themselves first thrown and then drawn together at shoots and dinners and garden parties, creating a two-person bubble of warmth and intimacy whenever they meet before it’s abruptly popped by one of their deeply unlikeable spouses.

In spite – or perhaps because – of being rooted in simplicity, this dynamic is several hundred degrees hotter than Lord Baddingham’s torrid affair or Campbell-Black’s fast-paced bed-hopping. Freddie and Lizzie bond over their shared love of sweet treats, secretly snaffling a bar of Cadbury’s or a piece of fruitcake in defiance of their partners’ enforced diets; they giggle like school children while hiding in a train toilet to avoid paying for a first-class ticket. No innuendos or cheesy chat-up lines necessary – their admiration for one another is straightforward and no-frills, the Ryanair equivalent of saucy dialogue. Yet the sexiest line of the whole show comes courtesy of Freddie after he gallantly rescues some pages from Lizzie’s work-in-progress novel that she accidentally leaves on the train.

“I hope you don’t mind, I read your chapters,” he says upon dropping them back to her. “They were brilliant… And sexy. Like you.” Like I said: swoon.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

Advertisement

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

Hats off to whoever was responsible for casting. It takes real vision to see the potential of Dyer, in particular, to become the romantic hero we never knew we needed (though past viral clips airing his political views and an unlikely friendship with the late, great playwright Harold Pinter have long been testament to the fact that there’s much more to him than the hardman, cockney wide-boy image). There’s a beautiful stillness in both performances, with Dyer and Parkinson playing the gentle build-up just right, the very ordinariness of their longing making it all the hornier. While other characters flirt so brazenly that they should, by rights, burst into flames on the spot, Freddie and Lizzie convey overwhelming tenderness with just a look or a smile; their pauses say as much as the words they frame. We knew Parkinson had this in her locker, but Dyer? The master of nuance? It’s as shocking as it is tantalising.

Both actors are in their forties; both have refreshingly normal-looking bodies to match. And perhaps that’s the lesson in all of this: that underneath the gloss and the glamour, six-packs and DD cleavages, caricature baddies and virginal innocents, the hottest thing in the world is genuinely liking someone who likes you back; someone who sees and accepts you, flaws and all; someone who wants nothing more than to share a bar of Cadbury’s, rip open your hideously garish floral dress (with shoulder pads) and pour champagne over your heaving bosom.

“I’ve never done this before – adultery,” Lizzie says nervously when things finally get steamy between them.

“I’ve never met anyone I wanted to do it with before,” replies Freddie. Lock up your wives: after watching Rivals, I’m pretty sure there’s an army of women who wouldn’t mind, ahem, doing it with him…

MARRIED At First Sight fans have noticed a concerning detail about one bride ahead of her husband’s shock exit from the show.

In scenes yet to air, viewers will soon see Ryan Livesey leave the experiment.

4

Advertisement

4

During Monday night’s episode, viewers were convinced his wife Sionainn Carmichael couldn’t stop shaking and feared it could be due to some unseen issue with her husband.

One person commented on TikTok: “I just felt that shannon(yes I know that’s not how she spells it) was visibly shaking the whole time she was talking on the sofa last night.”

Another agreed, replying: “I said the same to my daughter, she has been visibly and vocally shaking a lot of the time.”

A third suggested there could be an innocent reason for it, writing: “maybe she is just cold. If they film for long hours and it’s cold there I would be shaking as I can’t stand cold.”

The couple told the experts of a misunderstanding they’d had, with Sionainn revealing something Ryan did reminded her of an ex-boyfriend, prompting her to “panic” and flee.

However, they resolved their issues and revealed they’d even discussed moving in together in Manchester and getting a puppy.

Both decided to stay in the experiment, with Ryan gushing about his bride and Sionainn saying he’d turned her into a “soppy mess”.

But the wind will soon blow a different direction as binman and former semi-pro footballer Ryan decides to walk after becoming embroiled in a wife swap drama.

An insider told us: “Ryan has been a real hit with viewers and they will be shocked to see what unfolds in the next few weeks.

“Fans will see a very different side to him and other people in the show.

“He could make a return later on down the line but he feels it is right to walk when he does.”

A Channel 4 Spokesperson said: “Contributors have the right to exit the experiment at any point they wish. 

“Viewers will see one contributor opt to leave the process and, as one spouse cannot remain without the other, both halves of the couple exit, which will play out as part of their story, on screen.”

Ryan was at the centre of a huge row between Hannah Norburn and her husband Stephen Nolson prior to their exit.

During the couple’s retreat, Hannah was accused of being inappropriate towards Ryan.

Polly told the group: “Last night after the commitment ceremony she’s gone up to Sionainn and Ryan’s room and she was rubbing Ryan’s feet in front of Sionainn and going ‘ain’t you got nice blue eyes, your feet are so soft, isn’t it nice and warm in there?’”

But things got even worse for Ryan, when Stephen told him he planned to make a move on Sionainn.

During a tense confrontation in front of the group, Ryan raged: “If I wasn’t here, you’d crack on with her? Muppet.”

Hannah also found herself being confronted by the other brides over her flirting with Ryan – despite being married to Stephen.

Hannah told them: “Nobody is letting me speak, how do you think that makes me feel? It’s f****** horrible.”

But Polly was quick to jump in and told her: “Don’t start getting muggy.

“Do not start speaking to people like that. The last thing you want to do is get brave.” An upset Hannah replied: “Don’t threaten me.”

4

Advertisement

4

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

The Hairy Bikers star Si King has said he often catches himself expecting a phone call from his late best friend and co-star Dave Myers.

Myers, who found fame alongside King as part of the motorcycle-riding cooking duo on their TV show The Hairy Bikers, died in February aged 66 after being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. The pair became known for travelling the world on their motorbikes and their cookery books inspired by their travels.

Speaking on This Morning, King said that he’s still processing his friend’s death, and often wonders why he hasn’t heard from him.

“The amount of times that I’ve gone, ‘I’ve not heard from that toe rag’ and I’ll go, ‘Oh man’.

He added: “It was my best mate, and actually he still is my best mate, that never goes does it? But he is a miss. And it’s just a bit odd.”

Reflecting on his grief, King said: “It’s raw for anybody that loses somebody, but there are two things that are certain in life, you begin it and you end it, the bit in the middle is about what you do with it.”

“And Dave, I have to say, he loved his life. He lived it to the full and he was joyous to be around.”

King, 58, remembered how his friend of 30 years was always ready for new challenges and approached each day with enthusiasm – such as his time on Strictly Come Dancing.

open image in gallery

“Could he dance? Could he nelly, but it was just amazing to watch because it was a heart and soul performance, as you always got with Dave – that’s who he was,” said King.

In 2022, Myers revealed he had cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy.

King said the grieving process started for him when Myers was diagnosed but they concentrated on the treatment process together.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

Advertisement

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

“Grief is a very individual journey because it’s about an emotional adjustment of loss and the things that are no longer tangible, that’s quite an existential thing to get your head around,” he said.

The pair had been working on a new book, The Hairy Bikers: Our Family Favourites, before Myers’ death – but King has been spurred on to finish it in his friend’s honour.

“I really, really wanted to just as a mark of respect for my best mate and also it’s about legacy,” he said of finishing the book on his own.

open image in gallery

“It was about looking after that legacy and being the curator of that legacy is really important and to treat it with the respect it deserves.”

The book contains recipes that stuck with the piece during their travels over their two decades of travelling together.

Reflecting on meeting Myers in 1995 and going on to work together, King said: “We always used to say it was like winning the lottery but better.

“Because we were two working class lads from the north and it’s been such a privilege to see the world we live in and talk to the wonderful people that are sometimes completely diverse from the culture that we know and understand and are completely different.”

STRICTLY fans have joked theyre ‘calling the police’ after Craig Revel Horwood’s latest underscoring.

Judge Craig, 59, has come under fire for giving Montell Douglas, 38, only nine points during Saturday’s show while his co-stars opted for the highest score of 10.

4

Advertisement

Montell, best known as Fire from the Gladiators reboot, performed to Skeleton Move by Master KG & Zanda Zakuza with her partner Johannes Radebe this weekend.

The show couple, who were granted their Couple’s Choice, topped the leaderboard – with ever-critical Craig’s nine preventing them from achieving a perfect score of 40.

BBC viewers were left fuming as they watched from home, with some angrily rushing to social media.

One tweeted: “Hello @metpolice? Craig revel horwood for not giving a 10 to Montell, thanks.”

Another added: “Come on Craig. It’s only a ten on Strictly. It’s not like it’s a Paul Hollywood handshake or something important like that.”

Someone else raged: “Omg F**K OFF CRAIG GIVING MONTELL A 9!!!! SHOULD HAVE BEEN 10! I’m cancelling my tv license cause I am fuming.”

One more concluded: “Craig, lad, come on, you know that should have been a 10 for Montell & Johannes.”

Montell joined the BBC reboot of Gladiators earlier this year as she took on the alter ego of Fire to show off her power and strength.

She shared her excitement about her Strictly signing, telling fans: “Strictly ARE YOU READY, Fire is here to light up the Ballroom.

“Wow I am so honoured to have been asked to do the show. It is such an amazing thing to be a part of and I can’t wait to get started.

“Hopefully a few of my Gladiator moves will come in handy with the Tango or Paso Doble!”

She previously competed in the Olympic Games, making sporting history to become the first female UK athlete to compete at both the summer and winter Olympics.

She is a former Team GB sprinter and Olympic bobsledder, and held the British woman’s record for the fastest 100m sprint at 11.05 seconds, smashing the previous record which was unbeaten for 27 years.

In 2010, Montell won Commonwealth Gold in the 4 x 100m relay in Delhi as well as holding a European Under-23 Silver Medal in 100m.

Strictly 2024 pairings

Here’s who is matched with who this series…

4

Advertisement

4

4

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Kit Connor has criticised his viral Heartstopper scene with Hayley Atwell.

The 20-year-old actor who rose to fame as secondary school student Nick Nelson in the Netflix teen series has reflected on filming a widely-circulated Heartstopper scene that sees his character confide in his aunt (played by Marvel star Hayley Attwell) about his boyfriend Charlie’s eating disorder.

In the scene, Connor’s character, who is 16 at the time, opens up to his aunt after he’s been struggling to support his boyfriend whose mental health is deteriorating. Nick has been single-handedly trying to manage Charlie’s eating issue without telling their friends or parents.

Attwell’s character comforts Kit and gives him a piece of crucial advice, telling him that he can’t carry another person’s burden to rescue them – and that he should ask for help.

When speaking about the scene in an interview withTeen Vogue, Connor, who doesn’t use social media, was shocked to find out the moment had gone viral online because he thought his performance wasn’t very good.

“Has it been circulating?” Connor asked the interviewer.

The actor explained the scene was difficult to film, because they only had an hour to shoot it, and he was surprised people liked it.

open image in gallery

“Hayley did really beautifully in that scene. Really. That was a hard scene to film because we had an hour to shoot it. And it’s not short,” he said.

“I was really worried about it to be honest… But I’m glad that people like it. I tried to watch it and I was like, I’m not very good in this scene.”

The release of Heartstopper’s third season coincidences with Connor’s broadway debut, which sees him play Romeo in a modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet alongside West Side Story’s Rachel Zegler.

open image in gallery

Directed by Tony-winner Sam Gold (Fun Home) and featuring music by Grammy-winner Jack Antonoff, the new production aims to cater to a younger generation.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Advertisement

Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

Connor will be following in the footsteps of his Heartstopper co-star Joe Locke, who also made his Broadway debut this February, starring in Hadestown.

Speaking about joining Heartstopper in 2022, Connor reflected on becoming famous in his teens and beginning to care about other people’s opinions of him.

“Heartstopper came out when I still kind of hadn’t finished puberty. I wasn’t done yet. I wasn’t fully cooked. People had never looked at me in the way that they started looking at me. And I had never led a show before,” he told Teen Vogue. “I’d never led a project really before. I was a child actor. No one was like, that’s a good performance. It’s like, oh yeah, he’s a kid. He did all right. He said the lines. He got them out. I cared a lot about the opinions of strangers and that’s a dangerous place to be.”

A BELOVED children’s cartoon gave fans a sneak peak at its 25th anniversary special before revealing that a spin off show will continue for at least two more series.

Spongebob SquarePantsis an iconic cartoon that has captured the hearts of kids and adults alike with his adventures in Bikini Bottom with their friends Patrick Star, Mr Krabs and Gary the Snail among others.

3

Advertisement

3

3

At a SpongeBob SquarePants panel at New York Comic Con 2024, Nickelodeon revealed that The Patrick Star Show, the second SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff, has now been renewed for seasons four and five.

At the convention they also showed a half-hour 25th anniversary special, SpongeBob SquarePants, Snow Yellow.

In addition, they offered a sneak peak at the 25th anniversary special SpongeBob SquarePants, SpongeBob & Sandy’s Country Christmas.

The treats kept on coming as fans were also given a first look at The Patrick Star Show, Thanks But No Thanksgiving.

The series follows the starfish and his family and is currently in its third season, also airing on Nickelodeon.

The show’s stars Tom Kenny – who plays SpongeBob – and Bill Fagerbakke – who plays Patrick Star – appeared on stage to celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary.

Carolyn Lawrence, who plays Sandy Cheeks, was also there, as well as Rodger Bumpass (Squidward) and Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs).

They actors were joined by executive producers Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller.

Snow Yellow sees evil Queen Karen seek to try and claim the title ‘The squarest of them all’ for herself using cunning tactics.

The episode is due to air on Nickelodeon in November, along with The Patrick Star Show’s Thanks But No Thanksgiving.

In that episode, the Stars spend a happy holidays with Bunny’s family in Klopnod.

Meanwhile, in SpongeBob SquarePants – SpongeBob & Sandy’s Country Christmas, one of Sandy’s experiments ends in disaster, so it is up to the Cheeks family to team up to save Christmas.

It stars Craig Robinson as Pa Cheeks, Johnny Knoxville as Randy Cheeks, and Grey Delisle as Ma Cheeks.

Granny Cheeks, Rosie and Rowdy return to their roles as Sandy Cheek’s family. They also appeared in Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie. 

The Spongebob Christmas special premieres in December on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.

Catch episodes of Spongebob and The Patrick Star show on Nickleodeon.